Do you want to be in medical school in Fall 2013? Then resolve to: Sign up ASAP for an MCAT course so that you are fully prepared to take the test early. Ideally you want to ace it no later than the April 28th administration because then your scores should be released by May 30,…
MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Rejected Application: Disappointment or Tragedy
A few weeks ago I went to a meeting for bereaved mothers, mothers who have lost a child. The passing of our youngest child several years ago made me eligible for this club that anyone would do anything to stay out of. One of the women in this group, let’s call her Nancy, told about…
3 Steps to Acceptance
I want to share with you feedback from a happy client. He is responding to a congratulatory email I sent him after his acceptance to two top Executive MBA programs. We fortunately receive many emails from satisfied clients, so why post this one? While I hope you will find his praise compelling if you are…
Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Connect with Accepted.com
If you’re like most applicants, then not only do you have Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts, but you probably use them on a regular basis to network with friends and colleagues. Here are 4 reasons why you should connect with us: You’ll stay up-to-date on admissions news and events. We’ll keep you posted on application…
Submit a Stellar Application and Save 20%!
Looking for ways to improve your application? How about turning to the pros for 98 winning tips on how to create a dynamite application? That’s what you’ll get when you purchase both of this month’s featured ebooks, Submit a Stellar Application: 42 Terrific Tips to Help You Get Accepted and Submit a Stellar Application II:…
Defaulting on Student Loans Does Not Add Up
Many readers probably know from experience that student loans = an overwhelming amount of stress. But, as it turns out, defaulting on student loans = an even more overwhelming amounts of stress. Forbes recently wrote an article (“Deduct This: The History of Student Loan Interest”) on the history of student loans, which talks about…
Med School Admissions Tip: Timing is Essential
It is important that your experiences and activities be an ongoing process. Do not start your extracurricular experiences right before applying to medical school. This will be viewed as simply getting the experiences because you have to, instead of doing them because of your own interest or desire. Also, keep in mind that the applicant…
U.S. News’ Best Medical Schools 2012
U.S. News released its 2012 best medical schools report today. The lead article in the med school component of the rankings reports a few of the highlights. You’ll see that Harvard Medical School again snagged the first place spot among the best research universities. While that seems to be pretty constant year-to-year, there were…
You Are Always “On the Record”
Keep in mind that there is always some type of evaluation process taking place, even if it is informal or “off the record.” Always be polite and respectful. If student hosts take you in and allow you to stay overnight in their home, be thankful. Sometimes they are studying for exams, and they are always…
A Six-Item Checklist before Hitting “Submit”
WAIT! Don’t hit “submit” just yet! You may think you’re done with your Round 3 MBA or EMBA application, but it can’t hurt (unless you are literally at the deadline) to go over it one last time to make sure that all elements are intact and that you’re submitting compelling, articulate work that truly represents…
Make the Most of Your Interview Day
Sit in on classes, check out the library or the computer clusters, hang out in the student lounge, or take a walk outside to see what the local community is like. Sitting in on classes is critically important. Not only will you learn how the classes are taught, but you can observe the dynamics between…
Do Not Answer Your Interview’s Questions With One-Word Answers
Often applicants are nervous about the interviews. It is okay to be nervous and even to admit that you are nervous, but be careful that your anxiety does not get the best of you. The interview is your chance to really “sell” yourself. Answering your interview questions with one-word answers will not allow your interviewer…
Do Not Give “Canned” Answers to Interview Questions
Although it is important to practice your interviews, interviewers are looking for genuine, unforced answers to their questions. You do not want to sound rehearsed – and please, do not answer their questions with answers that you think they want to hear, instead of what you really think or feel. There might not always be…
In your medical school personal statement, do not generalize, criticize doctors
Do not forget that physicians will be reviewing your application; therefore it is probably not a good strategy to suggest that most physicians are incompetent and you are going to be the ideal doctor and will rescue our health care system. Also, be mindful of the fact that the people evaluating your application have many…
Do not make Excuses for Poor MCAT Scores
Right after the MCAT scores are released, phones go wild in medical school admissions offices. It will not help to panic over disappointing scores, or to call or e-mail blaming your scores on “bad sushi” the day of the exam. Take responsibility for your disappointing scores, and be honest with yourself and the medical schools…
Plagiarism in Residency Essays: Just Don’t
The WSJ’s Health Blog recently posted “Study: Medical Residency Applicants and Plagiarism” which cites a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine by a team of researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The researchers found “evidence of plagiarism” in 5.2% of residency application personal statements by comparing the essays to publicly available material…
Do Not Blame Your Professors For Your Poor Grades
Do not try to make excuses for your poor grades or try to defend them. If you are invited for an interview, be prepared to discuss those grades, but instead of placing the blame on someone else, focus on the positive and perhaps highlight your academic performance since then. Emphasize what you learned from the…
Do Not Quote Robert Frost in Your Med School Personal Statement
Be original. Quotes from Robert Frost are very popular on medical school applications. You should probably leave him out of the process. You can be serious or use a bit of humor, but be creative, original, and yourself. One student, with research experience in entomology, began his essay by comparing the different roles of ants…
Admissions Resume: What to Include
Recently in “MBA Admissions:The May-October Romance,” I suggested that applicants for Fall 2011 entry begin assembling materials for their applications now – a full five months in advance of the first fall deadlines. One of the ideal documents to begin now is a resume, something that any professional should always have updated and at the…
Medical School Admissions: Apply Early!
Medical school admission is very competitive, so you must get your applications in early. Schools with rolling admissions review their applications as they come in. As students are accepted, there will be more and more competition for the smaller number of remaining spots available. Admissions committees will then have a greater number of other applicants…